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Prior Lake resident and Vietnam veteran Rich Davidson, pictured,
with four other volunteers, will once again be putting up hundreds
of flags in local cemeteries.

Victoria Cooney / File photo

The Dan Patch American Legion, Dan Patch American Legion
Auxiliary and the Burnsville VFW hold a Memorial Day service in
2018. This year, the ceremonies at local cemeteries will be short
and private, due to the pandemic.

File photo by Dan Holtmeyer

Members of the Shakopee Veterans Honor Guard perform a gun
salute during a Memorial Day ceremony at Calvary Cemetery in 2019.
Shakopee Memorial Day events have been canceled this year due to
the pandemic.

Mark Olson / Photo by Mark W. Olson

A flag-raising is filmed at Veterans Park in Chaska for a
virtual Memorial Day service.

Mark Olson / Photo by Mark W. Olson

Members of the VFW Post 1791 Honor Guard prepare to raise the
flag while filming a virtual Veterans Day service.

File photo by Dan Holtmeyer File photo by Ron Mornson

Main Photo:
Members of the Shakopee Veterans Honor
Guard perform a gun salute during a Memorial Day ceremony at
Calvary Cemetery in 2019. Shakopee Memorial Day events have been
canceled this year due to the pandemic.Inset
Photo: The Memorial Day
parade in Jordan, pictured in 2018, won’t be held this year.
Instead, veterans will hold abridged services at three local
cemeteries.

File photo by Mark W. Olson

Sergeant-at-Arms James Schindler, with Chanhassen American
Legion Post 580, performs the commemorative wreath tribute during
the 2018 Memorial Day Ceremony. The public event has been canceled
this year. Instead, honor guards will privately visit local
cemeteries.

Memorial Day ceremonies honor those who have served in the U.S. armed forces and have died every year.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, on Monday, May 25, the majority of the familiar big commemorations and big crowds will be gone along with the parades, speeches and bands.

However, in their place, local veteran groups are continuing to find ways to recognize fallen comrades, whether privately, virtually or quietly.

FLAGS

Like other cities, Prior Lake has canceled its large Memorial Day ceremony.

However one tradition continues.

Every year Rich and Darlene Davidson, with Frieda Barlage, Tom Moore and Tim Harper, install hundreds of flags in seven Prior Lake cemeteries.

They began helping Tony and Mildred Conry with the initiative in 1992, taking over the program in 2005.

Every year the crew, ages 71-87, spend 145 hours putting up 548 flags. The flags, and in many cases markers, honor veterans dating back to the Civil War and members of the veteran auxiliaries.

The crews also need to put up hundreds of markers for the flags. To make sure they’re getting all the graves, Darlene keeps a database of 1,308 Prior Lake veterans and auxiliary members who have died, gleaned from obituaries and other reports. Not all the veterans are buried in Prior Lake cemeteries.

“With the virus and everything, we felt that this would be something that would be a real positive note,” Rich said.

At the end of the day, Rich said he can look at hundreds of flags flying in a cemetery. “It’s a heartwarming sight,” he said.

It’s also something American and spiritual, Rich said — something to look at and say, “We’re going to make it through this.”

Something new this year in downtown Prior Lake is the installation of 16 new banners honoring those currently in the U.S. Armed Services.

Mark and Dawn Kes “were the foundation of the program,” which began several months ago with assistance from the city, said Prior Lake V.F.W. Post 6208 Senior Vice Commandeer Dave Thompson.

Memorial Day is about honoring those who have paid the ultimate sacrifice, Thompson said. He said he hopes those passing the banners will “have a chance to think about those who’ve gone before, and thank those currently serving.”

The banners will hang in downtown Prior Lake until Labor Day, and then be presented to the families, Thompson said. The plan for future years is to also honor past members of the military.

PRIVATE

Normally, Chanhassen, Savage and Shakopee host large public ceremonies.

The events are longstanding traditions. Chanhassen has been holding Memorial Day services since 1954, according to American Legion Post 580 Sergeant-at-Arms James Schindler.

However, this year, some veterans groups are canceling services or holding private services at area cemeteries.

The virtual Memorial Day ceremony will be broadcast on Comcast Channel 14 and posted on the Chaska Community Television YouTube channel at 10 a.m. Monday.

Shakopee, Savage, Prior Lake and Chanhassen

Public services canceled. In some instances, honor guards are visiting cemeteries privately.

The Shakopee Veterans Honor Guard will virtually commemorate veterans on Memorial Day at 7 a.m. via the ShakopeeVHG Facebook page.

News

top story

Walz inches forward on June 1 reopenings; here's what's new

By Dave Orrick
Pioneer Press

05.21.20

Photo by Michael Browning on Unsplash

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz closed all restaurants and bars to
in-person customers on Monday, March 16.

Minnesota’s emergence from shutdown amid the coronavirus pandemic inched forward Wednesday, as Gov. Tim Walz announced limited openings of a number of sectors of society and the economy, but not until June 1.

With the lilacs in bloom and Memorial Day weekend approaching, the delay until June 1, combined with remaining restrictions left unlifted, was met with unease, confusion and complaints from those affected, including business associations and religious groups — even drawing a vow of disobedience from the archbishop of St. Paul and Minneapolis.

Walz and the state’s health commissioner defended the tepid steps as warranted under the principle that the closer people are, the longer the duration of their contact and the less predictable situation, then the more dangerous it is.

Still, he acknowledged, “It’s so maddening, I know.”

The announcements ease — or glaringly don’t — a broad sweep of activities for a society that is both eager to embark on summer and anxious amid an outbreak that continues to grow. Dining, drinking, camping, worshiping, sports playing, charter fishing and, of course, hair styling are among areas affected.

Here’s what Walz announced Wednesday as part of what he billed as Phase II of the state’s “Stay Safe” reopening plan — and what remains.

(Details can be found by going to MN.gov/COVID19 and clicking on “Stay Safe Plan” at the bottom. A detailed breakdown of many sectors can be found at MN.gov/DEED/guidance.)

RESTAURANTS AND BARS

Restaurants and bars can reopen June 1 — but only to outdoor dining at 50 percent capacity.

More restrictions: Reservations required; masks mandatory for staff, strongly encouraged for patrons up and about, groups no larger than four (six for a family), and 6 feet of distance between parties.

The outdoors-only restriction dashed hopes for restaurant owners who had rearranged interiors in hopes of indoor service. It also immediately raised a host of regulatory questions that state officials essentially punted to local governments, as Department of Employment and Economic Development Commissioner Steve Grove asked municipal officials to “get creative.”

Hospitality Minnesota, the state’s largest trade group for the restaurant industry, called the news “surprising and disappointing.” In a statement, the group said: “While it’s good for those restaurants that are able to offer outdoor seating, it will leave many behind around our state who cannot host patrons in an outdoor patio setting … another disastrous setback for them.”

BARBERS AND SALONS

Barbers and hair stylists will be allowed to resume haircuts (indoors) June 1. Tattoo parlors, nail salons and other personal service businesses will also be able to reopen, but don’t expect a pampered experience.

Restrictions: By appointment only, 25 percent capacity, masks mandatory for both clients and workers, and in some cases, workers will be told to use protective face shields.

CHURCHES

Nothing changes June 1 for churches, synagogues, mosques and other houses of worship.

That means no groups larger than 10 — indoors or out. And that was not well-received.

On Wednesday evening, Archbishop Bernard Hebda and the Rev. Dr. Lucas Woodford, president of the Minnesota South District of the Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod, jointly announced they will start holding services in defiance of Walz’s order.

CAMPING

Both public and private campgrounds — that includes state parks, camper cabins, national forests and RV parks — can reopen June 1. Until then, only dispersed backcountry camping is allowed.

Restrictions: The Department of Natural Resources has a bevy of rules. They range from restricting most campsites to members of a single household to best practices regarding common shower and bathroom facilities.

Hospitality Minnesota said RV parks were hoping for sooner than June 1. The group noted the short length of the summer camping season and said that “cabins on wheels” naturally provide for safe social distancing.

YOUTH SPORTS

As the season for Little League baseball and the annual cornucopia of sports camps and traveling leagues approaches, parents, organizers and kids remain unclear about what’s to come.

Technically, no changes were announced Wednesday, which appears to leave the following restrictions in place: groups of up to 10 can practice — if they keep 6 feet apart — but no competitive games can be played. Many associations are planning to start practice June 1.

SUMMER CAMPS

Nothing new was announced Wednesday, which leaves the following restrictions currently in place:

Overnight camps are not allowed.

Day camps can open, with social distancing guidelines.

Across the state, day camps have struggled with how to proceed. Some have announced delayed openings, such as early July, while others have said they’re planning to open earlier but are still in the process of drafting procedures. Day care centers have remained open throughout the pandemic, and Walz has allowed them to accept older children.

CHARTER FISHING

Charter fishing boats, including salmon excursions on Lake Superior and walleye “launches” on Lake Mille Lacs, will be allowed to cast off with customers June 1.

Restrictions: The DNR has a list of rules. The most significant will likely be a requirement to allow 6 feet of separation between crew members and anyone not in the same household. It’s unclear if such restrictions will be possible for all charter vessels.

WHAT’S NEXT?

Under Walz’s plan — which he is free to apply or revise under his emergency powers — the next phase of reopening could allow the following:

Indoor dining.

Increased capacity for salons and retail.

Limited reopening of gyms and fitness studios, which remain closed.

Limited-capacity outdoor concerts and entertainment.

Allowing houses of worship to allow 20 people inside and up to 100 for outdoor services.